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Week in Rewind Volume 126

Week In Rewind

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Welcome to Volume 126 of the Week in Rewind with Midwest Life and Style. In each recap, I’ll share my most recent posts, favorite finds, and a collection of ideas, tips, and inspiration from other bloggers around the web.

Week in Rewind graphic from Midwest Life and Style featuring a pumpkin-shaped everything bagel cheese ball, Halloween ghost cloche centerpiece, candlelit Halloween tablescape, and Monster Munch trail mix in a black cauldron.

*As an Amazon affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. My blog contains other affiliate links as well for your convenience. To learn more, you may read my Disclosure Policy. Thank you for supporting my blog!

Week in Rewind Volume 126

Happy Sunday!

It feels like October is flying by! Can you believe we’re almost halfway through the month already?

It’s been an exciting couple of weeks around here! If you missed last week’s announcement, my friend Missy from Sonata Home Design and I officially launched our holiday entertaining book! We’ve also welcomed four new furry family members, and I’m sharing all the adorable details below!

And in case you missed anything on the blog lately, I’m sharing some cozy fall recipes, early holiday inspiration, and a few of my favorite finds for the season. Plus, I have a little update on my office/bedroom makeover!

So grab your coffee, get comfy, and join me for the latest week in rewind!

Table of Contents

  • Week in Rewind Volume 126
  • Tidbits from Home
  • What I'm Loving This Week
  • Recently on the Blog
  • Coming Soon to MWLS
  • Wrapping Up: The Week in Rewind Volume 126
  • Did you enjoy this post? PIN it for later!

Tidbits from Home

We Wrote a Book…And It’s Officially Launched!

After months of planning, writing, photographing, and working behind the scenes, I can finally say it…our book has officially launched!

Two women toast with coupe glasses filled with a red holiday cocktail while wearing red and white sweaters.

In case you missed the news, my friend Missy from Sonata Home Design and I created our first digital holiday entertaining book, Twinkling Lights and Festive Bites.

Twinkling Lights & Festive Bites holiday entertaining guide styled on a brass table with a Christmas mug, candle, greenery, and plaid blanket.

What started as a small idea turned into an 82-page guide filled with festive recipes, Christmas decorating ideas, holiday entertaining tips, planning resources, and even a few of our favorite Christmas stories and traditions.

It’s been such a labor of love, and we’re both so excited to finally share it with you!

If you missed our launch announcement, you can read all about the book here, including a peek at what’s inside.

Graphic for Twinkling Lights & Festive Bites featuring the holiday entertaining guide, Christmas styling, bonus materials, and a link to explore the book.

And if you’re ready to get a head start on holiday planning, you can grab your copy of Twinkling Lights & Festive Bites here.

Thank you so much to everyone who has already purchased a copy or shared our news. Your support means so much to both of us!

Save the Date!

Speaking of the holidays, Missy and I shared another fun announcement on Thursday. After having so much fun hosting last year, we’re bringing our Holiday Open House back for a second year!

Kitchen decorated for Christmas with a large spread of holiday food on the island and a decorated Christmas tree nearby.

Save the date for Saturday, November 7! We’ll be hosting here in Lincoln again this year, and we’d love to have you join us.

Jen decorating a colorful Christmas tree with plaid ribbon and holiday ornaments for a holiday open house.
1. Guests gathering near a decorated Christmas tree and holiday display during a festive open house.

We’re already busy planning the menu, with lots of festive bites and treats, along with holiday decor, giveaways, and a few other fun surprises for the evening.

We’ll have more details to share soon, including how to RSVP. In the meantime, you can sign up here to be the first to get all the event details.

I also created an event on my Facebook page, so be sure to follow along there for updates as we get closer!

We can’t wait to celebrate with everyone again this year!

Four New Furry Family Members

Our grandkitty Rollie had her kittens on Tuesday, September 29, and she surprised us with four little kittens instead of the three our vet was expecting.

Black cat with bright yellow eyes wearing a pink collar and relaxing on a white chair.

They’re already growing like weeds and just starting to open their eyes. It’s been so much fun watching them grow and change every day, and Rollie has been such a good momma!

Four newborn kittens cuddled together on a soft white blanket, including black, tabby, gray, and white kittens with their eyes still closed.

Of course, now we’re starting to work on finding good homes for all four kittens when they’re old enough to leave their momma.

So, if you’re local and know anyone who’s looking to add a furry family member to their home, let me know!

A Special Weekend in Missouri

We made another trip to Missouri this weekend to visit Peyton, and for the first time since moving her into college in August, the whole family was able to come along!

A college volleyball player poses with her proud parents after a Missouri S&T volleyball game.

As you may remember, Peyton tore her ACL last September and has been working hard on her recovery ever since.

We really weren’t expecting her to get any playing time this season since the main focus has been on rehab and getting her healthy again. Plus, she has some talented older players ahead of her on the team.

But Friday night, we got a pretty exciting surprise!

Two sisters smile and hug after a Missouri S&T volleyball game, with the older sister wearing her number 14 jersey

Exactly 13 months to the day since she tore her ACL, and for the first time in 395 days, Peyton got to step back onto the volleyball court during the second set of the first match of their doubleheader!

She even had a block touch and recorded her first collegiate kill!

Missouri S&T women's volleyball players stand near the net during a match, with teammates communicating on the court.
Missouri S&T women's volleyball players in white and green uniforms gather on the court during a home match at Gibson Arena.
Peyton Svendsen, wearing jersey number 14, smiles and celebrates with a teammate during a Missouri S&T volleyball match.

There were definitely some happy tears after the match, and I’m so glad we were all there to see it.

Two sisters wearing green Missouri S&T apparel enjoy ice cream outside Soda and Scoops in Rolla, Missouri.

We celebrated with dinner out and a stop for ice cream at one of our favorite spots in Rolla, Soda and Scoops. It was the perfect way to end such a special weekend.

Office/Bedroom Refresh Update

I’ve been busy getting things ready for my office/bedroom refresh! I spent some time deep cleaning and organizing the space while I wait for the new bamboo blinds and area rug to arrive.

I’ve also been shopping for a few new accessories, including a desk mat and mouse pad set along with a beautiful new wall calendar. I also found the prettiest gold reading lamp, and I absolutely love it!

For some much-needed organization, I picked up a rolling cart and scalloped baskets to store my camera equipment and photography supplies. I also bought some shelves to display a few of the magazines I’ve been featured in over the years.

I’m excited to see everything once the blinds and rug arrive! In the meantime, you can shop all my home office finds here, including the new accessories I’ve picked up for the space.

What I’m Loving This Week

When you shop through my links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It truly means so much and helps support this little corner of the internet. Thank you for being here and trusting me with your shopping inspiration.

Collage of breakfast and kitchen essentials, including glass storage canisters, a milk frother, butter keeper, pancake batter dispenser, electric griddle, coffee maker, mixing bowls, and cooking utensils.
Collage of fall baking favorites from Amazon, including a pumpkin-shaped cake pan, gold measuring cups and spoons, marble rolling pin, gingham oven mitts, fall cookie cutters, mini baking molds, white KitchenAid stand mixer, and green gingham apron.

  • I love these for keeping leftovers fresh and my fridge organized. They’re stackable, leakproof, and will be perfect for all those holiday leftovers in the coming months!
  • I’ve been using this for over a year now, and it’s become a staple in my daily routine.
  • How pretty is this for fall? The warm orange colors are perfect for adding a little seasonal color to your front door.
  • This is pretty enough to leave out on the counter and perfect for serving cheese, crackers, and other appetizers when entertaining.
  • I love decorating with this. It’s perfect for displaying seasonal decor throughout the year!
  • For under $10, this is such a handy little kitchen find! It gives you a spot to rest your spoon and pot lid while cooking without making a mess on the counter.
  • I’ve been using this as part of my everyday makeup routine, and it’s quickly become a favorite
  • If you spend a lot of time chopping veggies, you need this in your kitchen! Such a time-saver, especially with holiday cooking right around the corner.

Shop the Collections

Looking to browse a little? I’ve rounded up all my favorite finds, seasonal decor, entertaining essentials, and everyday favorites in one place, so it’s easy to shop by category.

Amazon storefront logo to shop Midwest Life and Style custom links
Shop My storefront logo to shop Midwest Life and Style custom links
Shop My Lowe's logo to shop Midwest Life and Style custom links
Shop My Walmart logo to shop Midwest Life and Style custom links

For more great finds, you can also shop with me on the LiketoKnowIt app.

Recently on the Blog

Halloween is right around the corner, and if you’re looking for a fun treat to make for the occasion, this Halloween monster munch trail mix is always a hit!

Halloween Monster Munch Trail Mix with candy eye sprinkles in a caldron bowl with spooky skeleton hand serving utensils on the side of the caldron and white pumpkins in the background

It’s the perfect combination of sweet and salty, with plenty of festive Halloween goodies mixed in. Make a big batch for a Halloween party, package some up for friends and neighbors, or keep a bowl handy for snacking during your next Halloween movie night

How cute is this little pumpkin? This Everything Bagel pumpkin-shaped cheese ball is a fun appetizer to serve at your next fall gathering.

It’s packed with savory everything bagel flavor, and the pumpkin shape makes it a festive addition to any appetizer spread.

And speaking of seasonal gatherings, it’s never too early to start planning for Christmas, especially when it comes to decorating!

A welcoming Christmas entryway styled with traditional Christmas decorating ideas, including a vintage chair topped with a small festive tree, a tartan plaid throw, hanging ice skates, a mailbox filled with vintage postcards, and a red berry wreath on the door under a shelf decorated with greenery and warm twinkle lights.

Whether you stick with the same colors every year or like to change things up, I’ve rounded up 15 Christmas color palette ideas to help inspire your holiday decorating.

From traditional red and green to soft neutrals, and a few unexpected combinations, there’s plenty of inspiration for your tree, mantel, and the rest of your home. I’ve even included shopping links for each color scheme to help you find decorations in your favorite colors!

Coming Soon to MWLS

I’ve got a few more Halloween ideas coming your way this week, and I’m hoping to share the full reveal of my home office makeover soon, too! I’m excited to finally show you how everything turned out.

And with the holidays getting closer, I’ve been busy working on new Christmas recipes, decorating ideas, and entertaining inspiration to share with you. I’ve been taking advantage of the sunny days to squeeze in photoshoots, so don’t be surprised if you catch a glimpse of Christmas around here a little early!


Wrapping Up: The Week in Rewind Volume 126

As always, thanks for following along! If you enjoy these posts, you can find past Week in Rewind posts here.

And… If you are catching up on blog posts you may have missed, be sure to subscribe to become part of the MWLS community and be the first to get all of the latest recipes, DIYs, decor tips, and more sent straight to your inbox.

Cheers,

Did you enjoy this post? PIN it for later!

Week in Rewind graphic from Midwest Life and Style featuring a pumpkin-shaped everything bagel cheese ball, Halloween ghost cloche centerpiece, candlelit Halloween tablescape, and Monster Munch trail mix in a black cauldron.

October 11, 2026 · 2 Comments

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Comments

  1. Ann Marie says

    October 11, 2026 at 10:09 am

    The kittens are so. cute. Congratulations on your new additions.

    Reply
    • midwestlifeandstyle says

      October 11, 2026 at 11:29 am

      Thank you! They are very cute! It’s going to make saying goodbye to them all, but we already have 3 pets, so we can’t keep them.

      Reply

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Hi, I’m Jen, an entertaining pro sharing simple ideas and inspiration to help you host with ease. From tips for setting a beautiful table to easy recipes, seasonal decorating ideas, and DIYs, you’ll find everything you need to make every gathering and celebration feel special.

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Cover of Twinkling Lights and Festive Bites, a holiday entertaining guide by Missy Noonan and Jen Svendsen, featuring a colorful decorated Christmas tree and festive mantel.

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